Message-Id: <199407241339.AA15603@nfs1.digex.net>
Reply-To: ucleaar <ucleaar@ucl.ac.uk>
Date: Sun Jul 24 09:39:49 1994
Sender: Lojban list <LOJBAN@CUVMB.BITNET>
From: ucleaar <ucleaar@ucl.ac.uk>
Subject:      Re: ga'i[nai]
X-To:         lojban@cuvma.BITNET
To: Bob LeChevalier <lojbab@access.digex.net>
In-Reply-To:  (Your message of Sat, 23 Jul 94 09:01:11 EDT.)
Status: RO
X-From-Space-Date: Sun Jul 24 09:39:49 1994
X-From-Space-Address: LOJBAN%CUVMB.BITNET@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU

gahinai, I agree with Bob Chassell:
> In my experience,  Zipf's rule fails for obsequiousness:  Those who
> express lower rank use more words.
>
> {ga'inai}, {e'o} keep the definition of {ga'i} as is.

The use of extra syllables is iconic: the humble speaker puts
themself out for the addressee; the addressee is worth the
extra effort. It is to inferiors or intimates that one is
peremptory.
-----
mihelahomo. And mo.